Series 9 confirmed as a single "full run"

[MacLeod]

Note, though, there's still no confirmation of how many episodes are in either series 8 or 9's "full runs" - just that they won't be split seasons.

Moffat calls it "the traditional form," which implies 13 episodes and a Christmas special.

So what? 28 episodes in the next two series?

I just dont see any where near that many happening. Certainly not in any type of timely manner.

Maybe if season 8 runs end of 2014 into start of 2015 and season 9 happens in 2016.

Why not?

If it starts to air late August, i.e. Bank Holiday Weekend which would mean an air date of 23-8-14. That gives you at least seven months to film, you can do the FX works during that time period and you've still got time to to the last few episodes FX work whilst the earlier episodes are airing. Repeat in 2015.

 

[MNM]

My point is, why would it be logistically problematical to achieve a pace that is provably achievable?

I didnt say I didnt think it was logistacally possible at all to do, I said I didnt think it would happen for Moffat/Who.

Why not?

Because it doesnt strike me as likely based off the last few seasons / years. Certainly not as a straight run of 13 episodes in one year followed by the same the year later.

we shall see.

 

[Christopher]

So basically you don't think it's likely because you don't think it's likely. Not a very solid argument.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I didnt say I didnt think it was logistacally possible at all to do, I said I didnt think it would happen for Moffat/Who.

Because it doesnt strike me as likely based off the last few seasons / years. Certainly not as a straight run of 13 episodes in one year followed by the same the year later.

If the Controller of BBC1 says to Moffat, "We're expecting 13 episodes on the air in autumn 2014 and 13 episodes on the air in autumn 2015," Moffat's only answer, assuming he wants to keep his job, is "Sir, yes, sir!"

Moffat is the producer. He doesn't put Doctor Who on the schedule. He doesn't make episodes on his own initiative. He makes the episodes that the BBC commissions and hands him a budget for. If Moffat is unable to deliver what the BBC has hired him to do, then they will replace him with someone who can deliver. If Moffat needs to adjust his workload and farm out some of the "keystone" episodes to freelancers to meet his production deadlines, then that's what he'll have to do.

There are things that I think Moffat is responsible for that reflect badly upon him and the BBC, but the haphazard scheduling of the last few years is not among them.

 

[Professor Zoom]

So basically you don't think it's likely because you don't think it's likely. Not a very solid argument.

No, he said not likely based on the past few years. There's a history behind the argument.

 

[MacLeod]

I might be mistaken, but they managed 13 consecutive episodes in the first four series, they made a decison to do the speicals following that and series 5 managed to do 13 consecutive episodes. It's only series 6 & 7 when they did air them consecutively.

Of course some of that might have been down the BBC having to make budget cuts.

So more series have aired with consecutive seasons than not. So evidence suggest they can air 13 consecutive episodes if they choose to do so,

 

[Mr Awe]

So basically you don't think it's likely because you don't think it's likely. Not a very solid argument.

To be fair, there is some evidence to support MNM's view between Moffat's demonstrated slow pace of script writing and his apparent enthusiasm over the split seasons.

Although, I agree with the comments that if the BBC asks for 13 episodes, Moffat has no choice but to deliver, one way or another. And, Moffat may well not have been responsible for the scheduling.

Mr Awe

 

[Christopher]

I just don't see how "It's been done this way lately" translates to "It can't be done any other way." If the past were a reliable predictor for the future, they'd never have switched to split seasons in the first place.

And Moffat's "apparent enthusiasm" could be simply a matter of putting on the best public face when the change was imposed. People always act enthusiastic about their current or upcoming projects, because they don't want to discourage people's interest.

 

[MacLeod]

It might be the case the BBC prefers the 13 consecutive episode runs. DW is after all one of it's flagship shows. Having all 13 episodes run consecutively could have a cost saving benefit, as you only need to pay for marketing once not twice.

Autumn might be better viewership wise than running 13 episodes spring into summer.

 

[Mr Awe]

I just don't see how "It's been done this way lately" translates to "It can't be done any other way." If the past were a reliable predictor for the future, they'd never have switched to split seasons in the first place.

And Moffat's "apparent enthusiasm" could be simply a matter of putting on the best public face when the change was imposed. People always act enthusiastic about their current or upcoming projects, because they don't want to discourage people's interest.

You're exaggerating what's been said. I only said there was some evidence but never suggested that it is as conclusive as you paint it. I even stated that Moffat may not have been responsible for the scheduling.

Mr Awe

 

[Christopher]

I'm sorry, I'm just confused that the suggestion was even made at all. I really don't see any reason to be skeptical that it can be done. I've been trying to understand why that skepticism would exist, but I still don't get it.

 

[Yminale]

I'm sorry, I'm just confused that the suggestion was even made at all. I really don't see any reason to be skeptical that it can be done. I've been trying to understand why that skepticism would exist, but I still don't get it.

Maybe because outside of soap operas, the Brits don't have a tradition of long runs unlike American shows. There could technical reasons as well: smaller budgets, stricter schedules, access to sound stages, stricter work rules.

Honestly it's a better system since there seems to be fewer filler episodes and better quality scripts overall.

 

[Mr Awe]

I'm sorry, I'm just confused that the suggestion was even made at all. I really don't see any reason to be skeptical that it can be done. I've been trying to understand why that skepticism would exist, but I still don't get it.

Multiple factors have combined to produce the last several seasons which have been stretched out over an extended time. Change from the pattern established for what, 4 years or so, can obviously happen. But, it's not guaranteed. It would probably require larger budgets for one thing.

Combine that with the fact that Moffat has a history of misrepresenting things.

While I think it's likely to be true, I can understand why some would be skeptical.

Mr Awe